Tassel construction



Oct 1963 K. E. KAMPFE ETAL TASSEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 28, 1961 INVEN Ke/meffi 5 BY Jamas W lORi A TTORNES S.

United States Patent 3,105,243 TASSEL CONSTRUCTION Kenneth E. Kampfe and James W. Summers, Omaha,

Nehru, assignors to Paul A. Willsia Company, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Nov. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 155,273 6 Claims. ((31. 2-244) This invention relates to the mmufacture and assembly of decorative tassels, for example, those used to decorate academic and choir caps, and refers more particularly to an improved construction for such tassels and a method for making same.

In the manufacture of tassels, one of the conventional methods is to form a bundle of woven or braided strands, double the bundle on itself and tie or clamp the entire bundle together adjacent the locus of doubling so as to provide a tassel in which the number of free ends is twice the number of strands used. It is somewhat difiicult to manumly perform the necessary tying or clamping operation. The strands must be so held that the ends are even and maintained this way while the tie or clamp is made. Moreover, in the case of metal clamps, which are usually strips of deformable metal wrapped around the doubled bundle, special applicator equipment is needed since the clamp must be tightly engaged with the collected strands to firmly hold them and to prevent the clamp from slipping along the tassel from its desired position adjacent the end formed by the doubling operation.

One of the objects of the instant invention is to provide an improved method of making tassels in which the problems above noted are eliminated. One of the principal advantages of the method resides in the fact that the heretofore difficult doubling and clamping operation has been greatly simplified, so simplified, in fact, that it can be performed by hand in a matter of seconds and without requiring any tools or machinery, or without tying knots.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unique tassel construction which lends itself to assembly by the method of the invention and which results in a tassel of improved appearance and utility. It is a feature of the invention in this respect that the retention of the tassel strands in doubled condition is maintained by a simple collar or ring which encircles the bundle below the doubled end and which serves during assembly to effect the completion of the doubling operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tassel construction of the character described in which means are provided for connecting with the tassel a medallion, school insignia, or numerals, which means permits ready interchangeability with the tassel of various items of this nature without disturbing or requiring disassembly of the tassel construction itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tassel construction in which the medallion support is so constructed that it assists in the positioning of the retaining collar on the tassel and is so constructed that its assembly into the tassel is accomplished with ease and facility.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tassel construction in which, because of the nature of the collar, the latter can be provided with a wide variety of surface decorations which will not be disturbed or damaged during assembly of the completed tassel.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto will appear during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views;

3,195,243 Patented Oct. 1, 1963 "ice FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tassel according to the invention in the initial phase of its assembly;

FIG. 2 is a similar view, but showing a completed tassel embodying and made in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the combined medallion support and collar positioning member, disassociated from the remainder of the assembly.

Referring to the drawing, and initially to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a bundle of equal length tassel strands. Usually the strands are braided from textile or synthetic filaments, although various other threads and yarns or cords can be employed. The strands are gathered together at the midpoint of the bundle by one end of a suspension cord 11 having the portion 11a looped around the bundle and secured by knot 11b, and the metal tie clamp 12. The suspension cord 11, before it is tied to the bundle, comprises simply a length of cord whose ends are connected by the clamp 12 to form a large loop. The bundle is positioned in the loop with the clamp 12 in the position shown "and the simple knot 11b is then tied.

After the pre-assembly of the bundle It in the fashion above described, there is slipped over the cord 11 a ring or collar member 13 which is preferably of circular cross section with a cylindrical inner wall, and which may be provided on its outer surface with a machined striated or etched decorative pattern. The collar may be formed of any material capable of holding its shape during the assembly steps later to be described. We have found brass to be eminently satisfactory because of its ability to be treated to provide different colors, and the ability to easily machine different patterns into the surface.

Also included in the assembly of the tassel is the element 14 which is separately detailed in FIG. 3. It will be noted that this element is formed utilizing a length of relatively fine wire, and includes an open hook 14a at one end, and an eye portion 14b at the other. For reasons which will subsequently appear, the axis of eye 14b is offset to one side of the longitudinal axis of the central straight portion of element "14, and terminates in a reversely bent :tip 140. The wire of which element 14 is formed should have sufiicient resilience that a temporary entrance throat to the eye can be opened by applying a wedging force between the tip 14c and the juncture of the eye with the straight portion.

The element 14 is connected into the assembly by en gaging hook portion 14a into the loop 11a of the suspension cord, as shown in FlG. 1. Either at that time or prior to assembly a medallion 15 (in this case a graduation year numeral) having an assembly eye 15a is connected with element 14 by slipping the eye 15a of the medallion over tip and forcing it through the throat of eye 14a.

To complete the assembly of the collar with the tassel, the loop 11a and central pontion of the bundle 10 are forced through the collar. This can best be accomplished simply by holding the collar with the fingers of one hand and pulling on the cord 11 until the loop 11a has been drawn lengthwise through the collar, carrying with it the tied portion of the bundle. The resilience and flexibility of the strands permits the bunched up bight formed by drawing the loop through the collar to be sufficiently compressed to pass through the collar. Once it is through, it will expand slightly again to form the slightly bulged end 10a of FIG. 2.

The natural position of element 14 prior to assembly is shown in FIG. 1, and it will be observed that it is slightly to one side of a vertical line through clamp 12. Thus, as the collar 13 is forced over the doubled end of the strand bundle, the straight portion of the element will J tend to be positioned ofi center in the collar, particularly near the lower end of the latter. By virtue of the offset of eye 14b, the eye will project slightly outwardly past the descending lower end of the collar, and eventually will intercept same to limit the relative movement between the strand bundle and collar, and, in cooperation with the expanded strand mass above the collar, will serve to permanently maintain the collar in the proper position. The relatively great cross sectional surface of the medallion assists in turning the eye so that it is essentially radially disposed with respect to the axis of the collar, and so that its upper portion projects into the path of the lower end of the collar as the latter advances downwardly relative to the strand mass.

It will be evident that the medallion 15 can easily be removed and replaced by other insignia. This is accon plished simply by snapping the medallion out of the eye 14b. The throat of the eye 14b is turned inwardly and concealed by the strands at all times, which gives the tassel a neat finished appearance.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. In a tassel construction, the combination of a plurality of strands gathered together to provide a bundle in which the strands are generally parallel with one another, a suspension cord member having a loopportion circumscribing said bundle at substantially the longitudinal midpoint thereof, a substantially rigid tubular collar encircling and confining bundle portions on opposite sides of said loop portion whereby to gather the strands in said bundle portions within said collar in substantially parallel arrangement with one another, and means connected at one end with said loop portion and extending lengthwise through said collar and having at the other end a stop surface positioned .to limit the possible movement of said collar away from said loop portion.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises a length of substantially straight wire having a hook portion formed at said one end and engaged with said cord and wherein said stop surface is formed as part of an eye at the other end, said eye offset from the axis of the straight portion.

3. The combination as in claim 2 wherein said eye comprises a snap ring, and including a medallion detachably connected with said snap ring and disposed adjacent the outer surface of said bundle.

4. In a tassel construction, the combination of a bundle of strands doubled back to provide a central bight with portions of said bundle adjacent said bight arranged in substantially parallel relationship, a tubular collar sleeved over and surrounding said portions, a suspension cord having a loop portion looped around said bight, a member extending generally axially through said collar and connected at one end with said loop portion, the other end of said member having a portion sufficiently offset laterally as to present a surface to engage the adjacent end of said collar to limit movement of said collar away from said bight.

5. The combination as in claim 4 wherein said member is formed from a length of wire of greater length than said collar and having a substantially straight main body, said main body terminating at said one end in a hook engaging said loop portion and at said other end in an eye, said eye being olfset from the axis of the main body.

6. The combination as in claim 5 wherein said eye is formed as a snap ring, and including a medallion positioned on one side of said bundle and releasably conneoted with said snap ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,609 Remington May 15, 1883 2,566,750 Safir Sept. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 52,313 Germany Nov. 23, 1889 

1. IN A TASSEL CONSTRUCTION, THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF STRANDS GATHERED TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A BUNDLE IN WHICH THE STRANDS ARE GENERALLY PARALLEL WITH ONE ANOTHER, A SUSPENSION CORD MEMBER HAVING A LOOP PORTION CIRCUMSCRIBING SAID BUNDLE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE LONGITUDINAL MIDPOINT THEREOF, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID TUBULAR COLLAR ENCIRCLING AND CONFINING BUNDLE PORTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LOOP PORTION WHEREBY TO GATHER THE STRANDS IN SAID 